Stars battle for glory in home city of China’s Li Na

WUHAN, China: Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will headline the inaugural Wuhan Open this week after Chinese icon and hometown hero Li Na announced her shock retirement on the eve of the tournament. The pair are among the star-studded line-up for the $2.4 million event, which has been established on the back of the success of China’s two-time Grand Slam winner. The main matches will be played at a 5,000 seat court, before a huge 15,000 capacity stadium nearby is completed for next year’s tournament. The first round of the tournament begins on Sunday and will reach its climax on September 27.